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Summer nutrition

Yvonne Lee, left, and Stephanie Monroe hand out lunches at the Snack Shack (Sagebrush Pavilion) at Prairie Park Wednesday. RE-1 Valley School District has partnered with the city of Sterling and U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide free lunches for children and teens under age 18. (Callie Jones / Sterling Journal-Advocate)

Prairie Park was filled with children Wednesday, but they weren't there just to play on the playground, they were enjoying a free lunch.

In an effort to make sure that no child goes hungry while school is out RE-1 Valley School District has partnered with the city of Sterling and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to offer a Summer Food Service Program at the park.

The SFSP is a federally-funded child nutrition program established to ensure any child under 18 access to nutritious meals when school is out for summer break. In Colorado it's administered by the Colorado Department of Education. A number of districts in the state are participating in the program.

For its program, RE-1 Valley invites children and teens 18 under to grab a healthy lunch at the Prairie Park Snack Shack (Sagebrush Pavilion), located at 808 Elm St., every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday through Aug. 18. Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Aidan and Jordan Sherman, ages 9 and 6, enjoy a free lunch at the Snack Shack (Sagebrush Pavilion) at Prairie Park. The Snack Shack will be open through Aug. 18. (Callie Jones / Sterling Journal-Advocate)

All are welcome to come; there is no income or other qualifications.

"It feels good to be able to feed kids that wouldn't eat otherwise. It makes you feel good to help out," said Stephanie Monroe while serving up lunch to hungry children.

She also pointed out "it's great to see everyone work together" and to see parents who normally wouldn't talk to each other conversing.

According to Yvonne Lee, kitchen manager at Ayres Elementary, who is helping serve lunches, they are averaging about 200 people per day and they get all ages, from small children to junior high and high school students — even the Sterling High School baseball team has stopped by. About 60 students in RE-1's Summer Club eat there as well.

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Adults are also invited to take a meal for a $3 charge. Lee said they've given lunches to about 60 adults so far.

The district is compensated for the meals by the USDA. While the lunch varies each day, pizza wraps, a favorite, are served every day. Other food options have included ham and cheese sandwiches, hot dogs, bagels and cheese tortillas. The lunches include assorted apple sauces, chips and juices.

Lee noted they use soy butter and cheese so those with allergies can enjoy the food too.

Families enjoy lunch at the Snack Shack (Sagebrush Pavilion) at Prairie Park. The Snack Shack is open from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Children and teens under age 18 eat free, adults can buy a meal for $3. (Callie Jones/ Sterling Journal-Advocate)

Both she and Monroe start preparing the lunches at Ayres at about 8 a.m. and they make sure they have plenty of food, enough to allow people to have seconds if they want.

"We never run out of food; we always bring extra, we're prepared," Lee said.

The program has also had lots of community support. Wal-Mart donated two coolers, animal crackers, fruit snacks and pudding; Mr. D's donated one cooler; and Bomgaars has given a cooler as well.

A Summer Food Service Program will also be held at Ayres when the district's Summer School program starts, July 11-29. Snacks will be served between 8:30 and 9 a.m. and lunch will be served between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Wade Gandee, director of the city of Sterling Park, Library and Recreation Department, said when the district approached them the city was happy to partner. At first RE-1 wanted to serve the meals at Sterling Recreation Center, but he suggested the park might be better, because they could serve more people, and it's worked out great.

"I think it's a great partnership between the city and the school district," Gandee said, adding that it's nice for the kids to be able to sit and eat and then play on the playground or go to the pool.

He noted it hasn't put any burden on the city. They did make sure the parking was okay and made a few improvements on the playground surface, so far they haven't had any problems.

"I think it's helping a lot of kids and families," Gandee said. "It's a win-win partnership, I'm excited about it and hope we can keep it going for years to come."

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